Sarah Bagley Tells Her Story of Taking on Big Corporations, Fighting for the 10 Hour Work Day

Presented to you by: http://www.HistoricalConquest.com
Read more on our blog at: https://www.historicalconquest.com/blog

My name is Sarah Bagley, and I spent my life fighting for better working conditions, fair wages, and the rights of women in the workplace. I worked in the textile mills of New England, where I saw firsthand how factory workers—especially women—were being overworked and underpaid. But instead of staying silent, I stood up, spoke out, and helped spark the labor movement in America. Let me tell you my story.

I was born in 1806 in New Hampshire, a time when America was changing rapidly. The Industrial Revolution was transforming the country, and young women like me were leaving their family farms to work in the textile mills of places like Lowell, Massachusetts. The mills promised good wages and independence, so I decided to try it for myself.

At first, I was excited to be earning my own money, but it didn’t take long for me to see the truth. We worked 13 to 14 hours a day, six days a week, in loud, hot, and dangerous conditions. The factory owners made huge profits, but we were paid low wages and had little time for rest or education. I knew this wasn’t fair, and I wasn’t afraid to say so.

In 1844, I helped form the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association (LFLRA), the first women-led labor organization in the U.S.. We demanded that our workday be shortened to 10 hours, instead of the grueling 13 or 14-hour shifts we were forced to work. We wrote petitions, held meetings, and even published our own newspaper, The Voice of Industry, to spread our message.

Factory owners didn’t like what we were doing. They called us troublemakers, and many women who spoke out lost their jobs. But we kept fighting. We testified before the Massachusetts State Legislature, becoming some of the first women in U.S. history to speak publicly about labor rights.

Although we didn’t win the 10-hour workday right away, our efforts paved the way for future labor laws. Workers across the country started demanding better wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions. Our fight wasn’t just about mill workers—it was about fairness for all workers.

Later in life, I continued fighting for workers' rights, education, and women's equality. I even became one of the first female telegraph operators, proving that women could work in skilled jobs just like men.

I passed away in 1889, but I knew that our movement had made a difference. Today, when you see laws protecting workers, fair wages, or shorter workdays, you can thank the brave women who spoke up before it was common or easy to do so.

If there’s one lesson I want you to take from my story, it’s this: never be afraid to stand up for what’s right. Even one voice can spark change, and together, we can reshape the future. Thank you for listening.

Visit us at: https://www.historicalconquest.com/marketplace

#historicalconquest #history #historical #SecondIndependence #abolition #Freedom #IndustrialRevolution #Industry #colonialera #colonialamerica #constitution #usconstitution #unitedstates #unitedstatesofamerica #wildwest #slavery #civilwar #war #abrahamlincoln